The Labor enquirer., 1887-02-19
TRAvER, Cal. Feb. 10,
TO PATRICK FORD.
A Long Song from Him and short
OAe from Us.

The following editorial from the Irish
World deserves the attention OF the
workers:
The solemn character Of the RESPONSE
billties resting upon tne General Exec.
utiye Board of the knights of Labor
makes 1t imperative that no important
step be taken bi any committees assum-
ing 10 act in the name Of the Order at
large without to being first examined
and passed upoh by that body. Where
the General Assembly has failed to def-
mai ely prescribe the limits Of discre
tionary power to be exercised by COM
mittees OF its appointment, 1t becomes
the duty of the General Executive
Board, which represents the General
Assembly when not in session. TO do 30
and to hold such committees response
bic to them, ab they are responsible to
the Order at large.
In no instance Is the necessity for de-
fning with accuracy the duties. to be
performed bv cbmmittees Of more vital
Importance thah with the committee
appointed to urge certain legislation in
congress in the name of the Knights of
Labor. The danger of having such a
committee vested with full powers and
not Immediately responsible for their
action needs only to be identified to be
fully appreciated. In the. present pro :
gressiye condition Of the organization,
where there is b wide variance Of opin-
ion among the members on public is-
sues, there is no safety IN permitting
committees to exercise their individual
discretion in seeking TO further or de
feat any measures before the National
Legislature excep, those which have
been officially passed upon by The Gen
eral Assembly.
The recent message Of the Knights OF
Labor Legislation committee to the pres
ident, urging the exercise by him ol
the veto power against the Interstate
commerce bill IN face Of the expressed
will Of the vast majority Of both houses
Of congress, seems to US an ill-advised
proceeding, calculated to place the or
ganization in q false light before the
public. There Is no record showing
that this legislation committee was spe
cifically instructed to oppose the pass.
age of the Interstate commerce bill. II
is safe to say, on the contrary, that the
principle established bv the gbill al
passed, even i1 its imperfect form, Is re-
garded by nins-tenths of the industrial
Ielements in and out of the Knights Of
LABOR AZ victory for the people and
positive curb To the transportation mo-
nopolies. This sentiment OF the people
was we'll expressed bv congressman
Henderson during the debate on tn,
bill. when he ! thanked God that he ha'
an opportunity to vote on bill tha
laid the strong hand Of the general gov
ernment upon the railroads of the eoun
try
No department of the general polio
Of the Knights OF Labor calls for mor'
sound and ihrseeing Judgment thar
that which seeks TO formulate the law
through which It Is sought to establish
more equitable economic Conditions
and for this reason the Irish World ven
tnres the suggestion that the general ex
ecutiye board prescribe the boundarie
a beyond which no committee shall .
, authorized I'd speak in the name oil th
national organisation.
Why waste half o column? Why M
put it briefly and to the point;
The Labor Movement must be DEM
cratic not ih hperialistic. The K. OF
= legislative committee are either fools
they are brIbed. The X. Of L. mu
take warning now or the next Gener
Master Workman will be Gould hin
self. Speak put, FORD. as you used to !
!, and shame the devil and all his work
B. G. H..